Governor Dauda Lawal has applauded troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation Fansan Yamma, for recording major victories against banditry and terrorism across Zamfara State, following a series of coordinated military offensives that neutralised several notorious criminal commanders and disrupted planned attacks on communities.
The governor described the operations as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing fight against insecurity in the North-West, noting that the successes have boosted public confidence in the military’s renewed determination to restore peace and stability in the state.
The commendation followed a large-scale offensive launched by troops in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026, targeting criminal hideouts in Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. Security sources disclosed that the operation was carefully planned and executed based on actionable intelligence regarding the movement and activities of armed bandit groups terrorising residents in the affected communities.
During the operation, troops engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle that resulted in the neutralisation of three notorious gang leaders believed to have coordinated several attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling operations within the state and neighbouring areas.
Military personnel also recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the scene, including one AK-47 rifle, a machine gun, a locally fabricated handgun, seven rifle magazines and 571 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Governor Lawal, while reacting to the development, commended the courage, professionalism and resilience demonstrated by the troops, stressing that their sacrifices continue to play a vital role in protecting lives and property across Zamfara State.
He further described the renewed military offensive as timely and strategic, especially following another successful operation carried out on May 10, 2026, in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, where security forces disrupted a major gathering of terrorist leaders and commanders.
According to intelligence reports, the terrorists had converged at a concealed location in the village to coordinate fresh attacks and criminal activities against innocent communities in Zamfara and adjoining states.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma launched a precision airstrike on the identified hideout. The strike reportedly destroyed the structure being used as the terrorists’ meeting point and neutralised several commanders during the operation.
The latest successes are seen as part of intensified efforts by security agencies to dismantle criminal networks operating in the North-West region, where banditry, kidnapping and terrorism have posed serious security challenges in recent years.
Governor Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the military and other security agencies through sustained logistics assistance, collaboration and intelligence sharing aimed at strengthening ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
He urged residents to continue cooperating with security operatives by providing timely and credible information that could assist in tracking criminal elements and preventing future attacks.
The governor also reassured citizens that his government remains determined to ensure that peace returns fully to all parts of Zamfara State, emphasizing that security remains a top priority of his administration.
Security analysts believe the sustained pressure being mounted on criminal groups through coordinated ground and air operations could significantly weaken the operational capacity of bandit networks across the region if maintained consistently.
